Yes, I know reading FOM on this site sucks. I’m leaving the links to the pdf’s up, but I created a new website for Fistful of Metalusing Smack Jeeves. The image resolution is a little lower, but site navigation is ideal for reading webcomics.

Most of the titles on Smack Jeeves are pretty amateur, but you can find some professional work in there, too. The selection is kinda huge, and most seem to be drawn in manga style.

I also tried a different process, drawing each panel separately, then scanning them in and using a publishing program to cut and paste the page together. Drawing everything separately allowed me to get a lot more detail into the illustration, and I’m pretty happy with the results.

If you’re already on Smack Jeeves, or if you join, don’t forget to “favorite” Fistful of Metal!

I also revised the first three pages using a nicer font called “Unmasked” that I found for free on Blambot. (Thank you!)

These first five pages form the prologue of the the story, and, allowing for the fact that I’m sketching on 8 1/2″ x 11″ size paper (most comic books are drawn on 11″ x 17″) I’m pleased with how things are turning out. To get more detail in the drawings I considered turning the paper horizontally and then using the two-tiered, horizontal format (see this post by Warren Ellis) but the horizontal format always reminds me of the Sunday funnies – which are great, but not the type of design I feel like playing with.

I know what you’re thinking: get bigger paper. But I’m not going to actually get bigger paper because I don’t have a bigger scanner. (There’s a joke full of sexual innuendo in there somewhere).

With luck I’ll have time to draw the next couple of pages this week, introducing our protagonists.

Thanks for reading! My drawing should get better with practice. Keep up to date with Fistful of Metal by liking Princess Revolver on Facebook!

We’ve started a webcomic! It’s just for fun, so don’t expect museum quality art, but we think you’ll enjoy it. The comic is a cyberpunk-Western about the last human being in a world gone cyborg. Think of a mash-up of Sergio Leone, WWII movies, and pulp science fiction, and you’ve got FISTFUL OF METAL!

We’ll be updating at least a page every week. We’ll start with one 22-page issue, but the project and format may change after that. Like us on Facebook (in the sidebar) to be notified when new pages are posted. We welcome any comments and suggestions.